Can you give your dog quail eggs? Apparently, yes, depending on the source.

Quail eggs, who knew? This is one example of the fun stuff I get to learn from pet industry trade shows such as Pets Canada 2025 hosted in Toronto, Ontario in September.

Pets Canada 2025

Pets Canada was bigger than ever, though still not close to the size of SuperZoo in Las Vegas each year. However, factoring for population difference, I’d estimate the Canadian pet market is growing equally as rapidly as in the US. And so is product diversity.

Discovering new pet products is my favourite part of attending industry events, and this year a nest of quail eggs caught my attention in the ‘new product’ section of Pets Canada. So, I had to ask, ‘why feed your dog quail eggs?’

To get the answer, I asked the experts, specifically, two Canadian companies offering quail eggs for dogs: Dog Bites based in Salisbury, New Brunswick, and Healthy Paws from Smithville, Ontario.

Quail eggs for dogs

Here’s what I learned: quail eggs are pockets of good stuff — protein, healthy fats, vitamin A, vitamin B12, iron, selenium — basically a bite of poultry protein wrapped in a little spotted black and brown shell. Many dogs who can’t tolerate chicken or other common proteins can eat quail eggs without issue.

Quail eggs are a different poultry option so are considered hypoallergenic. If your dog has food sensitivities, this might be a safe option. Plus, they can be fed as single snacks – bite-sized crunchies that are either solid in the centre or runny, depending on whether the quail eggs are freeze-dried, fresh, or frozen. Both forms, however, are considered ‘raw’ pet food.

Freeze-Dried Quail Eggs from Dog Bites

Sourced from Spring Creek Quail Farms in the Niagara Region, the quail eggs from Dog Bites (a division of Petz International Ltd.) are freeze-dried. According to Dog Bites, freeze-drying retains more nutrients than the freeze-drying process, and the freeze-dried eggs do not need to be refrigerated. A carton of Dog Bites quail eggs has a shelf life of about two weeks.

Because freeze-dried quail eggs are solid – tiny and bite-sized – you can feed them as individual treats, shell too, or grind them into tiny pieces as a topper.

The tiny quail eggs are sourced from Canada’s largest quail farm located in Ontario, and Petz International are now able to buy and transport Ontario quail eggs to New Brunswick easily, creating a new product line for the company, which specializes in dehydrated cheese, chicken heart, and beef lung dog treats – all my dog loved when she tried them.

Fresh Quail Eggs from Healthy Paws

Who else gets their quail egg supply from the same farm in the Niagara Region? Healthy Paws, a raw pet food company located in Smithville, Ontario. The company recently moved from Etobicoke to Smithville to accommodate plant growth. The company produces, sells and distributes raw pet food – including quail eggs for dogs.

But, like all raw pet foods, these quail eggs must remain refrigerated. No freeze drying here, Healthy Paws eggs are simply frozen. They’re shipped frozen and must remain in the freezer at the pet store and in the consumer’s home. However, that means dogs can eat these eggs two ways: frozen or thawed.

Frozen Quail Eggs for Dogs

You can give larger dogs a frozen quail egg as a treat, like an ice cube, and let them crunch down on it. “My Lab eats them like that,” says Tina Dienesch, Healthy Paws Sales and Marketing Manager. Or you thaw them in the refrigerator. Because the egg yolks then thaw, these quail eggs can be cracked open and poured over a pet’s food like a topper.

Spring Creek Quail Farms is a human-grade egg production facility and, according to Dienesch, takes extreme precautions to keep production safe. She asked to visit the facility and was not permitted. It was video viewing only. Why? Safety. The people who do enter the quail production operation must shower before entering, don full-body suits, then remove the suits and shower after leaving. All to protect the birds from viruses.

Spring Creek Quail Farms primarily produces quail eggs for human consumption, but like so many other people foods, they are apparently just as healthy for our pups.

Benefits of quail eggs for dogs:

• High in protein and more easily digestible than chicken eggs, according to Crowle Quail, a UK-based quail egg producer
• Contains essential amino acids and vitamin A, which helps skin and coat
• Contains vitamin B12, important for nerve and blood cells
• A good source of iron, which can benefit anemic dogs
• Contains digestive enzymes and beneficial bacteria to aid digestion, according to Crowle Quail. (Note ‘Cautions and considerations’ below).
• Small and easy to regulate the amount given to your dog – no more than one or two per dog per day, depending on the size of the dog
• A novel protein that might be an alternative for dogs with food sensitivities to chicken
• Retail cost is $8 to $9 (CAD) for a carton of 18

Cautions and considerations when feeding quail eggs to dogs:

• Whether eggs are frozen or freeze-dried, they are considered raw food and can contain bacteria such as Salmonella, depending on how they are handled
• Some dogs can be allergic to quail eggs, even if they are not allergic to chicken
• No significant clinical trials or data exist yet about the benefits of quail eggs for dogs. Reports of shinier coats and reduced shedding are anecdotal.

Overall, quail eggs are another new nutrient-rich treat for your dog, which can be served frozen, thawed, or freeze-dried. There is anecdotal information about the benefits of quail eggs for dogs, but nothing scientifically proven yet. However, quail eggs are a protein option worth considering if your dog has food sensitivities or, simply, adventurous tastes.

Writer bio: Sherri Telenko has been a professional writer for decades and a travel writer for the last two. She’s a member of TMAC (Travel Media Association of Canada) and Dog Writers Association of America and travels almost weekly with her canine companion, Victoria. Contact Sherri at dogtrotting.net here. All written content is original, written by a person, and based on experience and research. Please subscribe!